Microsoft is now readying its augmented device, HoloLens for a bigger push. According to Bloomberg, the Redmond giant has been chosen as the manufacturer for the augmented reality system by the US Army. To honor the contract Microsoft is looking forward to manufacturing over 100,000 HoloLens.
However, to be able to win a contract that too of this importance wasn’t at all a cake walk for Microsoft as there were other notable names like Magic Leap that also showed interest to bag the contract. Both the companies had to go through a bidding process which was by the way meant to strengthen the US Army’s skill in doing business with tech companies.
Bloomberg also reports that the Army has asked for some of the military graded features and that includes thermal sensing, night vision, measure signs like breathing and readiness.
As stated in the contract, Microsoft now needs to deliver as much as 2,500 HoloLens within two years. “Artificial intelligence, augmented reality and other technologies are raising new and profoundly important issues, including the ability of weapons to act autonomously. As we have discussed these issues with governments, we’ve appreciated that no military in the world wants to wake up to discover that machines have started a war,” wrote Brad Smith, President, and Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft.
To come out as the winner in the bid means a lot to Microsoft Hololense. In a way, this contract would help project the company’s augmented solution as the most advanced available in the market which in turn would be helping Microsoft HoloLens to be able to grab some amount of mindshare.
